Split sense lines for negative pixel conpensation

ABSTRACT

A touch panel configured to compensate for negative pixel effect is disclosed. The panel can be configured to increase a capacitive sense signal, indicative of a touching or hovering object, in order to compensate for an increase in negative capacitance when the object is poorly grounded. To perform the compensation, the panel can be configured to have split sense lines so as to increase the number of electric fringe fields forming the sense signal, thereby providing a sense signal that is substantially stronger than the negative capacitance signal. Each sense line can be split into two or more strips.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/406,338, filed Feb. 27, 2012, of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This relates generally to a touch panel and more specifically to a touchpanel configured to compensate for negative pixel effect.

BACKGROUND

Many types of input devices are presently available for performingoperations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice,trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens and the like.Touch sensitive devices, such as touch screens, in particular, arebecoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility ofoperation as well as their declining price. A touch sensitive device caninclude a touch panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitivesurface, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)that can be positioned partially or fully behind the panel so that thetouch-sensitive surface can cover at least a portion of the viewablearea of the display device. The touch sensitive device can allow a userto perform various functions by touching or hovering over the touchpanel using a finger, stylus or other object at a location oftendictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device.In general, the touch sensitive device can recognize a touch or hoverevent and the position of the event on the touch panel, and thecomputing system can then interpret the event in accordance with thedisplay appearing at the time of the event, and thereafter can performone or more actions based on the event.

When the object touching or hovering over the touch sensor panel ispoorly grounded, touch or hover signals indicative of a touch or hoverevent can be erroneous or otherwise distorted. The possibility of sucherroneous or distorted signals can further increase when two or moresimultaneous events occur at the touch panel.

SUMMARY

This relates to a touch panel configured to compensate for negativepixel effect in the panel due to poor grounding of a user or otherobject touching or hovering over the panel. The panel can be configuredto include sense lines that are split lengthwise into multiple strips,thereby increasing sense signal capacitance (indicative of a touch orhover event) in the sense lines in order to compensate for negativepixel capacitance (indicative of the object's grounding condition)introduced into the sense lines by the poorly grounded user or object.The multiple strips can be coupled together at a distal end to transmita composite sense signal capacitance for processing. Alternatively, themultiple strips can be separated at a distal end to transmit eachstrip's sense signal capacitance for processing. The ratio of the sensesignal capacitance to the negative pixel capacitance can be maintainedat a suitable level to compensate for the negative pixel effect.Negative pixel compensation in a touch panel can advantageously providemore accurate and faster touch or hover detection, as well as powersavings, by not having to repeat measurements subject to poor groundingconditions. Additionally, the panel can more robustly adapt to variousgrounding conditions of a user or other object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary schematic of a touch panel according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary negative pixel effect in a touch panelreceiving a touch from a poorly grounded finger according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary sense line configuration in a touchpanel according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary split sense line configuration in atouch panel according to various embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary split sense line configuration in atouch panel according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates still another exemplary split sense lineconfiguration in a touch panel according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method for negative pixel compensationusing a split sense line configuration in a touch panel according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary computing system that can include atouch panel with a split sense line configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone that can include atouch panel with a split sense line configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary digital media player that can include atouch panel with a split sense line configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary portable computer that can include atouch panel with a split sense line configuration according to variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of example embodiments, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustrationspecific embodiments that can be practiced. It is to be understood thatother embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the various embodiments.

This relates to a touch panel configured to compensate for negativepixel effect in the panel due to poor grounding of a user or otherobject touching or hovering over the panel. Negative pixel effect refersto a condition in which an undesirable capacitance can be introducedinto the panel to interfere with a touch or hover signal, causing thesignal to be erroneous or otherwise distorted. The touch or hover signalcan be generated as an indication of the proximity of the user or objectto the panel at the same time that the poorly grounded user or objectintroduces the undesirable capacitance into the panel. To compensate fornegative pixel effect, the panel can be configured to include senselines that are split lengthwise into multiple strips, thereby increasingtouch signal capacitance in the sense lines in order to compensate fornegative pixel capacitance introduced into the sense lines by the poorlygrounded user or object. In some embodiments, the multiple strips can becoupled together at a distal end to transmit a composite touch signalcapacitance for processing. In some embodiments, the multiple strips canbe separated at a distal end to transmit each strip's touch signalcapacitance for processing.

The ratio of the touch signal capacitance to the negative pixelcapacitance can be maintained at a suitable level to compensate for thenegative pixel effect. Negative pixel compensation in a touch panel canadvantageously provide more accurate and faster touch or hoverdetection, as well as power savings, by not having to repeatmeasurements subject to poor grounding conditions. Additionally, thepanel can more robustly adapt to various grounding conditions of a useror other object.

The terms “poorly grounded,” “ungrounded,” “not grounded,” “not wellgrounded,” “improperly grounded,” “isolated,” and “floating” can be usedinterchangeably to refer to poor grounding conditions that can existwhen an object is not making a low impedance electrical coupling to theground of the touch panel.

The terms “grounded,” “properly grounded,” and “well grounded” can beused interchangeably to refer to good grounding conditions that canexist when an object is making a low impedance electrical coupling tothe ground of the touch panel.

Although various embodiments can be described and illustrated herein interms of mutual capacitance touch panels, it should be understood thatthe various embodiments are not so limited, but can be additionallyapplicable to self capacitance touch panels, both single and multi-touchtouch panels, and other sensors in which stimulation signals can be usedto generate a touch or hover signal.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary schematic of a touch panel according tovarious embodiments. In the example of FIG. 1, touch panel 100 caninclude an array of pixels 106 formed at the crossing points of drivelines 102 and sense lines 104. Each pixel 106 can have an associatedmutual capacitance Csig 114 formed between the crossing drive lines 102and sense lines 104. The drive lines 102 can be stimulated bystimulation signals 101 provided by drive circuitry (not shown) and thesense lines 104 can transmit sense signals 103, indicative of an objecttouching or hovering over the panel 100, to sense circuitry (not shown)that can include a sense amplifier for each sense line.

When a well grounded user's finger (or other object) touches or hoversover the panel 100, the finger can cause the capacitance Csig 114 toreduce by an amount ΔCsig at the touch or hover location. Thiscapacitance change ΔCsig can be caused by the finger blocking electricfringe fields formed between the stimulated drive line 102 and crossingsense line 104, thereby shunting charge or current from the drive linethrough the finger to ground rather than being coupled to the sense lineat the touch or hover location. The sense signals 103 representative ofthe capacitance change ΔCsig can be transmitted by the sense lines 104to the sense circuitry for processing. The sense signals 103 canindicate the pixel where the touch or hover occurred and the “amount” oftouch or hover that occurred at that pixel location.

Conversely, when a poorly grounded user's finger (or other object)touches or hovers over the panel 100, a finger capacitance Cfd to thestimulated drive line 102, a finger capacitance Cfs to the crossingsense line 104 at the touch or hover location, and a finger capacitanceCgnd to ground can form a secondary capacitive path for coupling chargefrom the drive line to the sense line. Some of the charge generated bythe stimulated drive line 102 and transmitted through the finger can becoupled via the secondary capacitive path back into the crossing senseline 104, rather than to ground. As a result, instead of the capacitanceCsig 114 of the pixel at the touch or hover location being reduced byΔCsig, Csig may only be reduced by (ΔCsig−Cneg), where Cneg canrepresent a so-called “negative capacitance” resulting from the chargecoupled into the crossing sense line due to the finger's poor grounding.The sense signals 103 can still generally indicate the pixel where thetouch or hover occurred but with an indication of a lesser amount oftouch or hover than actually occurred. This is known as a negative pixeleffect.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary negative pixel effect in a touch panelreceiving a touch from a poorly grounded finger according to variousembodiments. In the example of FIG. 2, a poorly grounded finger(symbolically illustrated by a circle and identified as “finger”) cantouch at pixel 206 a of touch panel 200. When drive line 202 a of thepanel 200 is stimulated, the capacitance along a first path between thedrive line 202 a and sense line 204 a can be (Csig−ΔCsig). Because thefinger is poorly grounded, a second capacitive path can form between thedrive line 202 a and the sense line 204 a, having capacitances Cfd(between the drive line 202 a and the finger) and Cfs (between the senseline 204 a and the finger). A capacitance Cgnd can also form between thefinger and ground. The capacitances Cfd, Cfs, forming negativecapacitance Cneg, can be due to charge or current acquired by the fingerfrom the stimulated drive line 202 a being coupled back into the panel200 at pixel 206 a, rather than being shunted to ground. Hence, ratherthan the sense signal 103 outputted from sense line 204 a being acapacitance of (Csig−ΔCsig), the outputted signal can be erroneous at acapacitance of (Csig−ΔCsig+Cneg) as a result of this negative pixeleffect.

The negative pixel effect can be further exacerbated by multiple poorlygrounded user's fingers (or other objects) simultaneously touching orhovering over the panel 200 at different locations. Erroneous sensesignals 103 like that described previously can be outputted at the touchor hover locations. Additionally, phantom sense signals can be outputtedat locations where there is no touch or hover (e.g., at sense lines 204b, 204 c).

The impact of the negative pixel effect can be a function of theproximity of the poorly grounded object to the touch panel. Becausecapacitance is inversely proportional to distance, the closer the poorlygrounded object to the touch panel, the stronger the negativecapacitance and, hence, the negative pixel effect. This can be aparticular concern as touch sensitive devices become thinner, making thedistance between the touching or hovering object and the touch panelcloser.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device according tovarious embodiments. In the example of FIG. 3, touch sensitive device300 can include thin cover 320 disposed over touch panel 310. The cover320 can be made of glass, polymer, or some other suitable material. Thepanel 310 can include sense lines 304, drive lines 302, and substrate335 to support the drive and sense lines. A user can touch or hover overa touchable surface of the cover 320 and the panel 310 can detect thetouching or hovering user. In some embodiments, the cover 320 can bequite thin, shortening the distance between the user and the panel 310.As a result, when the user is poorly grounded, the negative pixel effectcan be more impactful on sense signals generated by the panel 310.

Therefore, compensating the sense signals for the negative pixel effectin a thinner touch sensitive device can improve touch or hover sensingof the device's touch panel in poor grounding conditions.

According to various embodiments, to compensate for the strongernegative pixel effect, the amount of the capacitance change ΔCsig can belikewise increased. That is, by increasing the amount of ΔCsig with theincreased negative capacitances Cfd, Cfs, the ratio of ΔCsig to Cfd, Cfscan remain approximately the same as in normal operation (i.e., when theproximate object is well grounded), thereby attenuating the negativepixel effect of the increased Cfd, Cfs. The ratio is shown in thefollowing Equation.

$\frac{\Delta\;{Cisg}}{\left( \frac{{Cfd} \times {Cfs}}{{Cfd} + {Cfs} + {Cgnd}} \right)}.$During normal operation, the ratio can have a value in which thenumerator of ΔCsig is considerably larger than the denominator ofnegative capacitances such that the sense signal, indicated by ΔCsig, iseasily detected. In some embodiments, the numerator can be at least 60%larger than the denominator. To work effectively during poorly-groundedoperation, the touch panel can be configured to increase ΔCsig so as tomaintain approximately the same ratio with the denominator.

Accordingly, ΔCsig can be increased by increasing the number of senselines in a touch panel, thereby providing more sense line edges aroundwhich to form more electric fringe fields. As a result, there are morefringe fields with which the touching or hovering object can interfereand/or block. The more fringe field interference or blocking by theobject, the greater ΔCsig.

As an object gets closer to the panel, both ΔCsig and the negativecapacitance can dynamically increase because of the inverse relationshipbetween capacitance and distance. That is, the closer the capacitiveobjects, the stronger the capacitance therebetween. However, because ofthe multiple sense line strips, the ratio between ΔCsig and the negativecapacitance can be maintained (as illustrated in the previous Equation),such that ΔCsig is substantially larger than the negative capacitance.As a result, a touch panel having multiple sense line strips accordingto various embodiments can successfully compensate for the negativepixel effect regardless of the proximity of a poorly grounded object tothe panel. Moreover, the panel can successfully compensate for variousgrounding conditions.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary configuration of sense lines in a touchpanel according to various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 4, senselines S1, S2 can form a typical configuration in which each sense lineis a single line, rather than being split into multiple strips. Eachsense line S1, S2 can have a width D2 and be connected to respectivesense amplifiers 484, 485 for processing sense signals. The sense linescan be separated by distance D1. This typical configuration can be moresusceptible to the negative pixel effect when placed in a thinner touchsensitive device. This is because the number of sense lines may beinsufficient to produce a ΔCsig large enough to compensate for negativecapacitance caused by a poorly grounded proximate object.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary configuration of sense lines that cancompensate for the negative pixel effect that may be found in thetypical configuration of FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 5, sense lineS1′ can be split into multiple strips, thereby increasing the number ofsense lines and the amount of ΔCsig so as to compensate for the negativepixel effect. The sense line S1′ can be split into two strips, eachstrip having a width D3, where D3=½ (D2). Alternatively, the strips canhave different widths, where the total width equals D2. The two stripscan be coupled together at the distal ends and connected to senseamplifier 484 (not shown) for processing sense signals. Sense line S2′can be similarly divided into two strips coupled together at the distalends and connected to sense amplifier 485 (not shown). The multiplestrips in FIG. 5 can approximately double the electric fringe fields ofthe single sense lines in FIG. 4, thereby effectively doubling ΔCsig tocompensate for the negative pixel effect when a poorly grounded objecttouches or hovers over the panel.

Because the area of the single sense lines S1, S2 in FIG. 4 is the sameas the combined area of the respective multiple strips S1′, S2′ in FIG.5 and capacitance is directly proportional to area, mutual capacitanceCsig can be the same in FIGS. 4 and 5. For similar reasons, negativecapacitances Cfd, Cfs can be the same in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, asdescribed previously, because the multiple strips in FIG. 5 can providemore sense line edges around which to form more electric fringe fieldswith which the touching or hovering object can interfere or block thanthe single sense lines in FIG. 4, ΔCsig can increase. Accordingly, apoorly grounded touching or hovering object can more easily be detectedand less adversely impacted by the negative pixel effect in a FIG. 5configuration than a FIG. 4 configuration. This is the basis for thevarious embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary configuration of sense lines thatcan compensate for the negative pixel effect that may be found in thetypical configuration of FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 6, sense lineS1′ can be split into three strips, each strip having a width D4, whereD4=⅓ (D2). Alternatively, the strips can have different widths. Thethree strips can be coupled together at the distal ends and connected atto sense amplifier 484 (not shown) for processing sense signals. Senseline S2″ can be similarly configured. The multiple strips in FIG. 6 canapproximately triple the electric fringe fields of the single senselines in FIG. 4, thereby effectively tripling ΔCsig to compensate forthe negative pixel effect when a poorly grounded object touches orhovers over the panel.

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary configuration of sense lines thatcan compensate for the negative pixel effect that may be found in thetypical configuration of FIG. 4. The example of FIG. 7 is similar to theexample of FIG. 6 with the addition of multiplexer 738. In the exampleof FIG. 7, sense line S1′″ can have the three strips coupled together atthe top distal end and separate at the bottom distal end, where eachstrip can input to the multiplexer 738. The multiplexer 738 can thenselect (using control signal SEL) one of the strips to transmit sensesignals to sense amplifier 484 (not shown) for processing.

Although FIGS. 5 through 7 show two or three strips, it is to beunderstood that a sense line can be split into any number of strips soas to compensate for negative pixel effect according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method to compensate for negative pixeleffect in a touch panel according to various embodiments. In the exampleof FIG. 8, a first capacitive path can form between a drive line andmultiple sense line strips of a touch panel (810). The capacitive pathcan have touch capacitance (Csig−ΔCsig), when a well grounded objecttouches or hovers over the panel. Alternatively, the capacitive path canhave touch capacitance (Csig−ΔCsig+Cneg), when a poorly grounded objecttouches or hovers over the panel.

When a poorly grounded object touches or hovers over the panel, a secondcapacitive path can form between the drive line, the object, and thesense line strips (820). The capacitive path can have negativecapacitance Cneg, which can include capacitance Cfd, formed between thedrive line and the object, and capacitance Cfs, formed between theobject and the sense line strips. When the object is well grounded, thesecond capacitive path may be negligibly weak.

Because ΔCsig increases in a configuration with multiple strips of senselines, the ΔCsig increase can effectively counter the negativecapacitance Cneg, thereby compensating for the negative pixel effect atthe panel (830).

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary computing system 900 that can have atouch panel configured to compensate for negative pixel effect accordingto various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 9, computing system 900can include touch controller 906. The touch controller 906 can be asingle application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that can includeone or more processor subsystems 902, which can include one or more mainprocessors, such as ARM968 processors or other processors with similarfunctionality and capabilities. However, in other embodiments, theprocessor functionality can be implemented instead by dedicated logic,such as a state machine. The processor subsystems 902 can also includeperipherals (not shown) such as random access memory (RAM) or othertypes of memory or storage, watchdog timers and the like. The touchcontroller 906 can also include receive section 907 for receivingsignals, such as touch signals 903 of one or more sense channels (notshown), other signals from other sensors such as sensor 911, etc. Thetouch controller 906 can also include demodulation section 909 such as amultistage vector demodulation engine, panel scan logic 910, andtransmit section 914 for transmitting stimulation signals 916 to touchsensor panel 924 to drive the panel. The panel scan logic 910 can accessRAM 912, autonomously read data from the sense channels, and providecontrol for the sense channels. In addition, the panel scan logic 910can control the transmit section 914 to generate the stimulation signals916 at various frequencies and phases that can be selectively applied torows of the touch sensor panel 924.

The touch controller 906 can also include charge pump 915, which can beused to generate the supply voltage for the transmit section 914. Thestimulation signals 916 can have amplitudes higher than the maximumvoltage by cascading two charge store devices, e.g., capacitors,together to form the charge pump 915. Therefore, the stimulus voltagecan be higher (e.g., 6V) than the voltage level a single capacitor canhandle (e.g., 3.6 V). Although FIG. 9 shows the charge pump 915 separatefrom the transmit section 914, the charge pump can be part of thetransmit section.

Touch sensor panel 924 can include a capacitive sensing medium havingdrive lines and multiple strips of sense lines according to variousembodiments. The drive and sense line strips can be formed from atransparent conductive medium such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or AntimonyTin Oxide (ATO), although other transparent and non-transparentmaterials such as copper can also be used. The drive lines and senseline strips can be formed on a single side of a substantiallytransparent substrate separated by a substantially transparentdielectric material, on opposite sides of the substrate, on two separatesubstrates separated by the dielectric material, etc.

Computing system 900 can also include host processor 928 for receivingoutputs from the processor subsystems 902 and performing actions basedon the outputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving anobject such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjustingcontrol settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making aselection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device coupledto the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephonecall, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume or audiosettings, storing information related to telephone communications suchas addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls,logging onto a computer or a computer network, permitting authorizedindividuals access to restricted areas of the computer or computernetwork, loading a user profile associated with a user's preferredarrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to web content,launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding a message, and/orthe like. The host processor 928 can also perform additional functionsthat may not be related to panel processing, and can be coupled toprogram storage 932 and display device 930 such as an LCD display forproviding a UI to a user of the device. In some embodiments, the hostprocessor 928 can be a separate component from the touch controller 906,as shown. In other embodiments, the host processor 928 can be includedas part of the touch controller 906. In still other embodiments, thefunctions of the host processor 928 can be performed by the processorsubsystem 902 and/or distributed among other components of the touchcontroller 906. The display device 930 together with the touch sensorpanel 924, when located partially or entirely under the touch sensorpanel or when integrated with the touch sensor panel, can form a touchsensitive device such as a touch screen.

Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performed,for example, by firmware stored in memory (e.g., one of the peripherals)and executed by the processor subsystem 902, or stored in the programstorage 932 and executed by the host processor 928. The firmware canalso be stored and/or transported within any non-transitory computerreadable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a“non-transitory computer readable storage medium” can be anynon-transitory medium that can contain or store the program for use byor in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium can include,but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device,a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM)(magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable opticaldisc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or flash memory suchas compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memory devices,memory sticks, and the like.

The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for useby or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. Inthe context of this document, a “transport medium” can be anynon-transitory medium that can communicate, propagate or transport theprogram for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device. The transport medium can include, but isnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic orinfrared wired or wireless propagation medium.

It is to be understood that the touch panel is not limited to touch, asdescribed in FIG. 9, but can be a proximity panel or any other panelaccording to various embodiments. In addition, the touch sensor paneldescribed herein can be either a single-touch or a multi-touch sensorpanel.

It is further to be understood that the computing system is not limitedto the components and configuration of FIG. 9, but can include otherand/or additional components in various configurations capable ofcompensating for a negative pixel effect according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone 1000 that can includetouch sensor panel 1024, display 1036, and other computing systemblocks, where the panel can be configured with multiple sense linestrips to compensate for negative pixel effect according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary digital media player 1100 that caninclude touch sensor panel 1124, display 1136, and other computingsystem blocks, where the panel can be configured with multiple senseline strips to compensate for negative pixel effect according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary personal computer 1200 that can includetouch sensor panel (trackpad) 1224, display 1236, and other computingsystem blocks, where the panel can be configured with multiple senseline strips to compensate for negative pixel effect according to variousembodiments.

The mobile telephone, media player, and personal computer of FIGS. 10through 12 can realize power savings, improved accuracy, faster speed,and more robustness by compensating for a negative pixel effectaccording to various embodiments.

Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes andmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are to be understood as being included withinthe scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch panel comprising: a plurality of drive lines, each drive line configured to receive a separate stimulation signal and drive the touch panel to detect an object proximate to a surface of the touch panel; and a plurality of sense lines, each sense line divided into multiple directly adjacent and electrically separated strips continuously formed along their length and configured to increase a number of electric fringe fields formed between the stimulated drive lines and the sense lines and maintain at least a predetermined ratio between a change in mutual capacitance formed between a drive line and the sense line due to the proximate object, and a negative capacitance on the sense line due to the proximate object; wherein the change in mutual capacitance is greater than the negative capacitance.
 2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the multiple strips of each sense line are connected to a same sense amplifier.
 3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein at least two of the connected strips of a single sense line are of different widths.
 4. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein at least two of the strips of different sense lines are of different widths.
 5. The touch panel of claim 1 comprising a multiplexer, wherein the strips of at least one of the sense lines are connected to the multiplexer.
 6. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein the multiplexer is configured to select one of the strips to transmit sense signals to a sense amplifier.
 7. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each sense line is divided into at least three connected strips.
 8. The touch panel of claim 1, comprising a touch controller configured to process sense signals received from the sense lines.
 9. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the multiple strips of a sense line is different from a second distance between adjacent strips of different sense lines, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
 10. The touch panel of claim 9, wherein the first distance is a spacing between adjacent connected strips of a same sense line.
 11. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a width of each of strip a sense line of the plurality of sense lines is less than a distance between any two connected adjacent strips of the respective sense line.
 12. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the multiple strips of a sense line is different from a second distance between adjacent strips of different sense lines, and wherein the second distance is greater than a total width of a sense line of the plurality of sense lines.
 13. An electronic device including the touch panel of claim
 1. 